New Delhi: In a stark warning that has sparked widespread debate, the BJP legislator from Guna assembly, Panna Lal Shakya, has warned that India may plunge into such a mess that the ones in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Afghanistan would seem like kid’s play.
Addressing the closing ceremony of a state-level judo and boxing competition at Guna’s Excellence School, Shakya strongly demanded that the future of the country be protected by making it a must that every young man between eighteen and thirty do the military training.
Shakya’s remarks come amid the recent crises in neighbouring countries, where protesters have taken to the streets, resulting in rapid changes of power. In Nepal, the parliament was stormed by protesters who set fire to government buildings, and at least two top officials resigned. The same happened in Bangladesh with a regime change, while Sri Lanka went through a severe economic crisis and scuffles. Comparing, the MLA referred to the history of the world and said even the holiest places weren’t safe from the destruction of Nalanda University, which was the most famous university in the world, having 12,000 students and 1,200 teachers, and was burnt down by the invaders, and for six months its library was on fire without anyone stopping it. He also talked about the several times Somnath Temple in Gujarat was destroyed, and that was history repeating itself.
“Though we often discuss sports, development, and becoming a Vishwaguru, we must not let go of the nation’s security and future,” Shakya stated. The district collector, he insisted, should send a proposal on paper to the Centre, including a recommendation that the Home and Defence Ministries immediately start the process to make military training compulsory. “If our youth are not trained today, then there is also the possibility of a civil war happening here,” he said, explaining that after the riots in those countries, everyone is now looking at India.
The suggestions of the legislator publicly arming youths come from the fear of an uprising and are in line with worries of economic downturn and social disharmony, which are South Asia’s troubles. The war in Afghanistan is still going on, while terror in Pakistan is getting out of control. The view that Shakya proposed fit well with the conversations that were going on about the country’s ability to stand through; however, it has shocked many people, and, being of an alarmist kind, maybe it has stirred up fears in this large and diverse democracy of India.
Not for the first time, Shakya outrageous remarks have attracted media attention; his most recent intervention, however, related to the ongoing geopolitical tensions. As India transitions into its role as a regional power, warnings of this kind loudly call for taking the right steps in youth empowerment and defence preparation. One is left wondering about the stability of the area when this issue, which should have only been a celebration of sporting talents, turns into a forum for this incendiary talk, leaving the excitement of the participants and observers aside.
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